Trump Drafted Letter Arguing for Comey’s Ouster, Sources Say

  • Draft didn’t focus on Russia probe as rationale, official says
  • White House cited deputy attorney general’s memo in firing

James Comey.

Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
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President Donald Trump prepared his own draft letter making the case for firing FBI Director James Comey, which was then circulated among senior White House staff before the deputy attorney general wrote a memo justifying the move, according to two people familiar with matter.

The memo Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein submitted to the White House was released as the first of several justifications for firing Comey, on May 9.